25th March 2024
Hilbre Bird Observatory
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2d ago
 Weather: ESE force 5     rain Rain from early morning did not augur well for migrants but Meadow Pipits excelled with up to 600 birds passing through during the day. There were single Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Reed Bunting, White Wagtail also 4 Siskins and 2 Chiffchaffs. On the sea no Gannets, but 3 Great Crested Grebes, 2 Red-breasted Margansers, 2 Guillemots, a Red-throated Diver, a Razorbill and 300 Common Scoter, including this pair on the rocks.  Over 400 Brent are still estimated as present, and 5 Eider also still here. Among the waders were 1,600 Knot, 60 D ..read more
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24th March 2024
Hilbre Bird Observatory
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3d ago
 Weather: WNW force 5, slowly decreasing 3 during the day   Following the very strong winds of yesterday looking towards the sea was the order of the day, which brought it's reward with the sighting of a drake Long-tailed duck and other records on the sea. There were still 2 Gannets seen out in Liverpool bay after the blow in yesterday and over 1,500 distant Common Scoter, a Kittiwake, 2 Red-breasted Mergansers, 4 Little Gulls and 3 Red-throated Divers.  As usual there was the odd Scoter near to the island. The first Swallow of the year soon arrived after the day became ..read more
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22nd March 2024
Hilbre Bird Observatory
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5d ago
 Weather: W force 5   some mist  With the wind back in the west, many migrants were not expected and so it proved. A Goldcrest, 2 Goldfinches, a Pied Wagtail and a single male Wheatear were the sum total. There were 6 Eider drifting in the gutter on the morning tide with 4 being males, they were briefly joined by 4 Teal. The hundred or so Common scoter seen included a few near the island.   The breezy sea produced 4 Gannets, while a high tide roost in Niffy Bay included 130 Turnstone, 50 Dunlin, 80 Redshank and 15 Purple Sandpiper on the 'steps'.  There were 6 ..read more
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21st March 2024
Hilbre Bird Observatory
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6d ago
 Weather: SE force 2   veering SW and increasing 4/5  rain showers After the first Wheatear yesterday, another first today with the sighting of an Osprey which scattered all the gulls, waders and even the Brent as it progressed north up the east side of the islands. It was seen to have caught a massive flatfish before landing on the east hoyle sands for some time (obviously distant pictures in poor light), nevertheless a notable record as this is the earliest appearance by an Osprey at Hilbre ever, previously there was one on 30th March 2013.  A Crow gave the Osprey c ..read more
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20th March 2024
Hilbre Bird Observatory
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6d ago
Weather: NNE force 3,  NW force 3 in the afternoon. The rain was much less heavy than foreecast which enabled the observatory work scheduled to take place without too much interruption. Meanwhile the sort after first for the year appeared on the path to the north end, just beyond the lighthouse. Yes, our first Wheatear, a splendid male. Early thrushes were noted, a Fieldfare and 4 Redwing and a fall of 15 Goldcrests and 6 Chiffchaff. Two of the Chiffchaffs were ringed this morning and 5 of the Goldcrests likewise. A fine Reed Bunting was a welcome visitor.  A Starling in moult ..read more
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19th March 2024
Hilbre Bird Observatory
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1w ago
 Weather: W force 4   mostly dry and quite mild One of the least expected of the ducks to be seen on Hilbre (although more frequently recorded in recent years) are Shovelers, there were a pair today seen west of the lagoon before flying south west. A pair of Eider were also here, ..... also 3 Pintail following 2 yesterday, 375 Brent (plus a dark-bellied), about 200 distant Scoter and 7 Shelduck.   The sawbills were not to be outdone, with the good number of 22 Red-breasted Mergansers,  ... and a drake Goosander. Twenty four Gannets were seen first thing, th ..read more
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18th March 2024
Hilbre Bird Observatory
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1w ago
 Weather: E force 3, slowly veering W  through SE, S, SW,  during the morning. A few Goldcrests were in the gardens first thing when 3 were caught for ringing. A small number of Robins had also arrived with just a single Chiffchaff which was singing in the SK paddock. A visit to the north end surprisingly encountered a Blue Tit arriving off the sea. It must have filtered down the island because a short time later it appeared in the obs garden before rapidly flying off south. There have been an exceptional number of Blue Tit records over the last few weeks as it is still a sc ..read more
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17th March 2024
Hilbre Bird Observatory
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1w ago
 Weather: ESE force 4   some drizzle  Even more Long-tailed Tits this morning, seven ! Two were ringed birds from yesterday and 3 of the new ones were ringed today.   A scarce visitor to the islands, it is unlikely that anyone can remember 3 consecutive visits when Long tailed Tits have been present. A single Goldcrest and a single Chiffchaff were slightly disappointing. There were however 8 Pied Wagtails, a Lesser Redpoll and 2 Goldfinches.   Linnets are now returning to breed in numbers at this time.    Meadow Pipits are also singing on t ..read more
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16th March 2024
Hilbre Bird Observatory
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1w ago
Weather: SE force 3 Thursday started with a small fall of Chiffchaffs, today however started with a small fall of Goldcrests which were keen to move on and only the odd one stayed beyond 2 hours after dawn. The first 2 Sand Martins of the year flew south, meanwhile more mundane migrants arrived such as 2 Woodpigeons, 3 Skylarks, 12 Pied Wagtails, a Chaffinch, 4 Goldfinch, a few migrant Robins and a single Starling.    A Reed Bunting however was notable as it was caught for ringing. Yet another Blue Tit was calling in the paddocks, and unbelievedly 3 more Long-tailed Tits arrived a ..read more
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14th March 2024
Hilbre Bird Observatory
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1w ago
 Weather: S force 3/4 The day started with a surprise fall of Chiffchaffs, there were at least 14 around the paddocks etc. A passage of Meadow Pipits moved through with a Woodpigeon, a Reed Bunting, several Robins and overhead movements of a couple of Skylarks, a few Siskins and Goldfinches. Late morning as the tide flooded the movement continued and brought in a few 'Hilbre rarities', when 2 Blue Tits and a Long-tailed Tit visited the island. A Short-eared Owl turned up in the early evening and a Harbour Porpoise swam quite close in passed the north end. At the high tide 1,500 Oystercat ..read more
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